Because McDonald's has seemingly forgotten its promise to "reach out" to Cleveland kidnapping rescuer Charles Ramsey, other restaurants have stepped up. More than a dozen restaurants in Ohio are honouring their local hero by giving him a burger anytime he wants one.

"I heard screaming. I'm eating my McDonald's. I come outside, I see this girl going nuts trying to get ou of the house," Ramsay said in interviews after he helped Amanda Berry and her daughter, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight escaped from their 10-year captivity.

Thousands of people have contacted McDonald's earlier this month, asking the fast food giant to give Ramsay free Big Mac for life for his heroism. After all, although inadvertently, he gave the fast food chain free publicity for implying that heroes eat McDonald's.

And to prove that the company wasn't deaf to customers' request, a rep replied on Twitter, saying, "We saw an overwhelming response on Twitter calling on McDonald's to do something," promising that they'll be "in touch."

But weeks later, there's still no word from the multi-billion dollar brand. So rather than let their hero wait for McDonald's to get "in touch" with him, local restaurants have done something about it.

To honour Ramsey, more than a dozen of restaurants in Northeast Ohio have pledged to offer him a burger anytime he wants to stop by and eat with them.

According to Cleveland.com, the restaurants that promise free burger to Ramsey include AMP 150, Washington Place Bistro and Inn, Fahrenheit, Market Garden Brewery, Bier Markt, Bar Cento, Nano Brew, Welshfield Inn, Hodges, Pura Vida, 87 West at Crocker Park, Orchard House, Flour, and Allegheny Grille.

What's more, Hodges restaurant, where Ramsey works as a dishwasher, is honouring their very own employee with a Ramsey Burger.

"It's an 8-ounce burger of Certified Angus Beef, with a secret sauce," chef and co-owner Chris Hodgson told the Web site of the Ramsey Burger, which was initially offered as a weeklong special only, but has made the sandwich a permanent option in their menu.

His partner, Scott Kuhn of Driftwood Restaurant Group, is planning for a bigger tribute to Ramsey.

"We want to honour our local hero with local food," he said. "He stopped his meal midway through to help those women. We're now making sure he has other opportunities to go out and fully enjoy his burger."

Ramsey will be receiving a "Chuck Card," a single-edition, good for life card that he can take into one of the participating restaurants to be able to get a free burger.

"I'm sure some places will give him more - maybe add fries and a soft drink - but that will be up to them," Kuhn continued.

Their hero is currently travelling in a paid leave. The Chuck Card will be formally presented to him when he returns.